Electric connector and electric connector assembly

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector includes a housing and a number of mating modules assembled to the housing. The mating module includes conductive terminals, metal shield surrounding members and cables. The conductive terminal includes a tail portion and a mating portion. The conductive terminal extends along a mating direction. The metal shield surrounding member includes a sleeve portion surrounding a periphery of the mating portion. The cable includes a core electrically connected to the tail portion. Compared with the prior art, the electrical connector disclosed in the present disclosure is a cable electrical connector. Besides, the conductive terminal extends along the mating direction, thereby simplifying the structural design of the conductive terminal. The present disclosure also discloses an electrical connector assembly having the electrical connector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority of a Chinese Patent ApplicationNo. 202010567796.4, filed on Jun. 19, 2020 and titled “BACKPLANECONNECTOR ASSEMBLY”, a Chinese Patent Application No. 202011433181.9,filed on Dec. 9, 2020 and titled “ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY”, and aChinese Patent Application No. 202110381399.2, filed on Apr. 9, 2021 andtitled “ELECTRIC CONNECTOR AND ELECTRIC CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY”, the entirecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an electrical connector and anelectrical connector assembly having the electrical connector, whichbelongs to a technical field of connectors.

BACKGROUND

Existing electrical connector assemblies usually include a maleconnector and a female connector. The male connector usually includes amale housing and a plurality of male mating modules mounted to the malehousing. Each male mating module includes an insulating bracket, aplurality of male conductive terminals insert-molded with the insulatingbracket, and a first metal shield disposed on at least one side of theinsulating bracket. The male conductive terminal usually includes afirst mating portion and a first mounting portion perpendicular to thefirst mating portion.

The female connector usually includes a female housing and a pluralityof female mating modules mounted to the female housing. Each femalemating module includes an insulating bracket, a plurality of femaleconductive terminals insert-molded with the insulating bracket, and asecond metal shield disposed on at least one side of the insulatingbracket. The female conductive terminal usually includes a second matingportion and a second mounting portion perpendicular to the second matingportion.

The first mounting portions and the second mounting portions are usuallymounted on a circuit board. However, as the signal transmissionrequirements of high-speed connectors continue to increase, there isstill room for improvement in the architecture of the existingelectrical connector assemblies.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an electricalconnector and an electrical connector assembly with a simple terminalstructure.

In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure adopts thefollowing technical solution: an electrical connector, comprising: ahousing; and a plurality of mating modules assembled to the housing;each mating module comprising: a plurality of conductive terminalsextending along a mating direction, each conductive terminal including atail portion and a mating portion; a metal shield surrounding membercomprising a plurality of hollow portions surrounding the matingportions; and a cable comprising a plurality of cores electricallyconnected to the tail portions.

In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure adopts thefollowing technical solution: an electrical connector assembly,comprising: a first electrical connector, comprising: a first housing;and a plurality of first mating modules assembled to the first housing;each first mating module comprising: a plurality of first conductiveterminals extending along a mating direction, each first conductiveterminal comprising a first tail portion and a first mating portion; afirst metal shield; a second metal shield, the first metal shield andthe second metal shield being located on opposite sides of the firstconductive terminals; and a first cable, the first cable comprising aplurality of first cores electrically connected to the first tailportions; wherein the first conductive terminals comprise firstdifferential signal terminals, a first ground terminal and a secondground terminal, wherein the first differential signal terminals arelocated between the first ground terminal and the second groundterminal; and wherein the first metal shield, the second metal shield,the first ground terminal and the second ground terminal jointly form ashielding space enclosing the first mating portions of the firstdifferential signal terminals; and a second electrical connector formating with the first electrical connector, the second electricalconnector comprising: a second housing; and a plurality of second matingmodules assembled to the second housing; each second mating modulecomprising: a plurality of second conductive terminals extending alongthe mating direction, each second conductive terminal including a secondtail portion and a second mating portion; a metal shield surroundingmember comprising a plurality of hollow portions surrounding the matingportions; and a second cable comprising a plurality of second coreselectrically connected to the second tail portions.

Compared with the prior art, the electrical connector of the presentdisclosure is a cable electrical connector, and the shielding effect isimproved by providing a metal shield surrounding member enclosing aperiphery of the mating portion. Besides, the conductive terminalextends along the mating direction, thereby simplifying the structuraldesign of the conductive terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of an electrical connectorassembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective exploded view of FIG. 1 , in which afirst electrical connector and a second electrical connector areseparated from each other;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective exploded view of the first electricalconnector in FIG. 2 , in which a first housing is separated;

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of FIG. 3 from anotherangle;

FIG. 5 is a further perspective exploded view of FIG. 4 , in which aplurality of first positioning pieces are separated;

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of FIG. 5 from anotherangle;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the first electrical connector after removingthe first positioning pieces;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the first electrical connector after removingthe first positioning pieces;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the first positioning pieces in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the first positioning pieces in accordancewith another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a perspective schematic view of a first mating module;

FIG. 12 is a perspective schematic view of FIG. 11 from another angle;

FIG. 13 is a partially exploded perspective view of FIG. 11 ;

FIG. 14 is a partial perspective exploded view of FIG. 13 from anotherangle;

FIG. 15 is a perspective schematic view of first conductive terminals inFIG. 13 ;

FIG. 16 is a perspective schematic view of a first cable;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the first conductive terminals, an insulatingbracket, the first cables and a first outer covering portion which areseparated from each other;

FIG. 18 is a right side view of a first metal shield of the firstelectrical connector in FIG. 13 ;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the first metal shield of the first electricalconnector in FIG. 13 from another angle;

FIG. 20 is a right side view of a second metal shield of the firstelectrical connector in FIG. 13 ;

FIG. 21 is a side view of the first metal shield of the first electricalconnector in FIG. 13 from another angle;

FIG. 22 is a right side view of the first metal shield in FIG. 18 inanother embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a side view of FIG. 22 from another angle;

FIG. 24 is a right side view of the second metal shield in FIG. 20 inanother embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a side view of FIG. 24 from another angle;

FIG. 26 is a partial enlarged view of a circled portion E in FIG. 13 ;

FIG. 27 is a partial enlarged view of a circled portion F in FIG. 13 ;

FIG. 28 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG.2 ;

FIG. 29 is a partial enlarged view of a frame portion G in FIG. 28 ;

FIG. 30 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG.2 ;

FIG. 31 is a partial enlarged view of a frame portion H in FIG. 30 ;

FIG. 32 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG.2 ;

FIG. 33 is a partial enlarged view of a frame portion I in FIG. 32 ;

FIG. 34 is a partial perspective exploded view of the second electricalconnector in FIG. 2 , in which a second housing is separated;

FIG. 35 is a partially exploded perspective view of FIG. 34 from anotherangle;

FIG. 36 is a further perspective exploded view of FIG. 35 , in which aplurality of second positioning pieces are separated;

FIG. 37 is a partially exploded perspective view of FIG. 36 from anotherangle;

FIG. 38 is a partial enlarged view of a circled portion J in FIG. 36 ;

FIG. 39 is a partial enlarged view of a circled portion K in FIG. 36 ;

FIG. 40 is a front view of the second positioning pieces in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 41 is a front view of the second positioning pieces in accordancewith another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 42 is a perspective schematic view of a second mating module;

FIG. 43 is a perspective schematic view of FIG. 42 from another angle;

FIG. 44 is a partial perspective exploded view of the second matingmodule;

FIG. 45 is a partial enlarged view of a circled portion L in FIG. 44 ;

FIG. 46 is a partial perspective exploded view of the second matingmodule in FIG. 42 ;

FIG. 47 is a partial enlarged view of a circled portion M in FIG. 46 ;

FIG. 48 is a further perspective exploded view of FIG. 46 ;

FIG. 49 is a perspective schematic view of a metal shield surroundingmember and the metal shielding plate in another embodiment in FIG. 48 ;

FIG. 50 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG.1 ;

FIG. 51 is a top view of FIG. 7 in another embodiment; and

FIG. 52 is a top view of a third locking slot in FIG. 38 in anotherembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail here, examples ofwhich are shown in drawings. When referring to the drawings below,unless otherwise indicated, same numerals in different drawingsrepresent the same or similar elements. The examples described in thefollowing exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodimentsconsistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples ofdevices and methods consistent with some aspects of the application asdetailed in the appended claims.

The terminology used in this application is only for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments, and is not intended to limit thisapplication. The singular forms “a”, “said”, and “the” used in thisapplication and the appended claims are also intended to include pluralforms unless the context clearly indicates other meanings.

It should be understood that the terms “first”, “second” and similarwords used in the specification and claims of this application do notrepresent any order, quantity or importance, but are only used todistinguish different components. Similarly, “an” or “a” and othersimilar words do not mean a quantity limit, but mean that there is atleast one; “multiple” or “a plurality of” means two or more than two.Unless otherwise noted, “front”, “rear”, “lower” and/or “upper” andsimilar words are for ease of description only and are not limited toone location or one spatial orientation. Similar words such as “include”or “comprise” mean that elements or objects appear before “include” or“comprise” cover elements or objects listed after “include” or“comprise” and their equivalents, and do not exclude other elements orobjects. The term “a plurality of” mentioned in the present disclosureincludes two or more.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thecase of no conflict, the following embodiments and features in theembodiments can be combined with each other.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , an illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure discloses an electrical connector assembly including a firstelectrical connector 100 and a second electrical connector 200 formating with the first electrical connector 100. The first electricalconnector 100 is a first backplane connector, and the second electricalconnector 200 is a second backplane connector. Specifically, in theillustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the first backplaneconnector is a first backplane cable connector, and the second backplaneconnector is a second backplane cable connector. The first electricalconnector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 are mated witheach other along a mating direction for signal transmission. In theillustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the mating directionis a front-rear direction.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first electrical connector 100 includesa first housing 1, a plurality of first mating modules 2 mounted to thefirst housing 1, and a plurality of first positioning pieces 3 forpositioning the first mating modules 2 in the first housing 1.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6 , the first housing 1 is made of insulatingmaterial, and includes a first body portion 11, a first wall portion 12extending rearwardly from one end (for example, an upper end) of thefirst body portion 11, and a second wall portion 13 extending rearwardlyfrom the other end (for example, a lower end) of the first body portion11. The first body portion 11 includes a mating surface 111 and aplurality of first terminal receiving grooves 112 extending through themating surface 111. In the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the first terminal receiving grooves 112 are disposed inmultiple rows along a vertical direction. Two adjacent rows of firstterminal receiving grooves 112 are staggered in a left-right direction.That is, the first terminal receiving grooves 112 at correspondingpositions in two adjacent rows of the first terminal receiving grooves112 are not aligned in the left-right direction. The first wall portion12 includes a plurality of first slots 121, a plurality of first lockingslots 122 communicating with the first slots 121, and a plurality offirst positioning slots 123 for positioning the corresponding firstmating modules 2. The second wall portion 13 includes a plurality ofsecond slots 131, a plurality of second locking slot 132 communicatingwith the second slots 131, and a plurality of second positioning slots133 for positioning the corresponding first mating modules 2. The firstslots 121 and the second slots 131 extend in the front-rear direction.The first slot 121 and the second slot 131 which are in alignment witheach other in the vertical direction are used for receiving one firstmating module 2. The first locking slots 122 and the second lockingslots 132 extend along the vertical direction. The first locking slots122 extend through the first wall portion 12 along the verticaldirection so as to communicate with the corresponding first slots 121.The second locking slots 132 extend through the second wall portion 13along the vertical direction so as to communicate with the correspondingsecond slots 131.

As shown in FIG. 7 , in the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, each first locking slot 122 is roughly cross-shaped, andincludes a first intermediate slot portion 1220, a first slot portion1221 located on one side (i.e., a left side) of the first intermediateslot portion 1220 along a first direction (i.e., the left-rightdirection), a second slot portion 1222 located on the other side (i.e.,a right side) of the first intermediate slot portion 1220 along thefirst direction, a first slotted portion 1223 located on one side (i.e.,a front side) of the first intermediate slot portion 1220 along a seconddirection (i.e., the front-rear direction), and a second slotted portion1224 located on the other side (i.e., a rear side) of the firstintermediate slot portion 1220 along the second direction. Regarding onefirst locking slot 122, the first slot portion 1221, the firstintermediate slot portion 1220 and the second slot portion 1222 arecommunicated in the left-right direction. The first slotted portion1223, the first intermediate slot portion 1220 and the second slottedportion 1224 are communicated in the front-rear direction. The firstslot portion 1221 and the second slot portion 1222 both extend throughthe first wall portion 12 along the vertical direction so as tocommunicate with the corresponding first slot 121. The firstintermediate slot portion 1220 does not extend downwardly through thefirst wall portion 12, so that a surface of the first wall portion 12located in the first intermediate slot portion 1220 can limit thecorresponding first positioning piece 3. In addition, by providing thefirst slotted portion 1223 and the second slotted portion 1224 in thepresent disclosure, it is advantageous to clamp the first positioningpiece 3 by a clamp, and to assemble or disassemble the first positioningpiece 3 in the first locking slot 122.

Similarly, referring to FIG. 8 , each second locking slot 132 is roughlycross-shaped, and includes a second intermediate slot portion 1320, athird slot portion 1321 located on one side (i.e., the left side) of thesecond intermediate slot portion 1320 along the first direction (i.e.,the left-right direction), a fourth slot portion 1322 located on theother side (i.e., the right side) of the second intermediate slotportion 1320 along the first direction, a third slotted portion 1323located on one side (i.e., the front side) of the second intermediateslot portion 1320 along the second direction (i.e., the front-reardirection), and a fourth slotted portion 1324 located on the other side(i.e., the rear side) of the second intermediate slot portion 1320 alongthe second direction. Regarding one second locking slot 132, the thirdslot portion 1321, the second intermediate slot portion 1320 and thefourth slot portion 1322 are communicated in the left-right direction.The third slotted portion 1323, the second intermediate slot portion1320 and the fourth slotted portion 1324 are communicated in thefront-rear direction. The fourth slot portion 1322 extends through thesecond wall portion 13 along the vertical direction so as to communicatewith the second slot 131. The third slot portion 1321 and the fourthslot portion 1322 both extend through the second wall portion 13 alongthe vertical direction so as to communicate with the correspondingsecond slot 131. The second intermediate slot portion 1320 does notextend upwardly through the second wall portion 13, so that a surface ofthe second wall portion 13 located in the second intermediate slotportion 1320 can limit the corresponding first positioning piece 3. Inaddition, by providing the third slotted portion 1323 and the fourthslotted portion 1324 in the present disclosure, it is advantageous toclamp the first positioning piece 3 by a clamp, and to assemble ordisassemble the first positioning piece 3 in the second locking slot132.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the firstlocking slot 122 and the second locking slot 132 are substantiallycross-shaped. Of course, in other embodiments, the first locking slot122 may also be H-shaped. Specifically, referring to FIG. 51 , the firstlocking slot 122 includes a first intermediate slot portion 1220, afirst slot portion 1221 located on one side (i.e., the left side) of thefirst intermediate slot portion 1220 along the first direction (i.e.,the left-right direction), a second slot portion 1222 located on theother side (i.e., the right side) of the first intermediate slot portion1220 along the first direction, first opening portions 1225 located onboth sides of the first slot portion 1221 along the second direction(i.e., the front-rear direction), and second opening portions 1226located on both sides of the second slot portion 1222 along the seconddirection. Regarding one first locking slot 122, the first slot portion1221, the first intermediate slot portion 1220 and the second slotportion 1222 are communicated in the left-right direction. The firstintermediate slot portion 1220 does not extend downwardly through thefirst wall portion 12, so that a surface of the first wall portion 12located in the first intermediate slot portion 1220 can limit thecorresponding first positioning piece 3. In addition, in the presentdisclosure, by providing the first opening portion 1225 and the secondopening portion 1226, it is advantageous to clamp the first positioningpiece 3 by a clamp, and to assemble or disassemble the first positioningpiece 3 in the first locking slot 122. The shape of the second lockingslot 132 may be the same as the shape of the first locking slot 122,that is, the second locking slot 132 is also H-shaped, which will not berepeated in the present disclosure. Of course, in other embodiments, thefirst locking slot 122 and the second locking slot 132 may also haveother shapes which are not limited by the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 9 , the first positioning piece 3 includes a pluralityof first pin pieces 31 mating with the first locking slots 122 and aplurality of second pin pieces 32 mating with the second locking slots132. Each first pin piece 31 is approximately in a shape of an invertedU, and includes a first pin piece portion 311 fixed in the first slotportion 1221, a second pin piece portion 312 fixed in the second slotportion 1222, and a first connecting portion 310 connecting the firstpin piece portion 311 and the second pin piece portion 312. In theillustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the first pin pieceportion 311 and the second pin piece portion 312 respectively include aplurality of first barbs 313 in order to improve the holding force withthe first wall portion 12. The first connecting portion 310 is receivedin the first intermediate slot portion 1220. In the illustratedembodiment of the present disclosure, lengths of the first pin pieceportion 311 and the second pin piece portion 312 are different in orderto correspond to different first mating modules 2.

Similarly, each second pin piece 32 is roughly U-shaped, and includes athird pin piece portion 321 fixed in the third slot portion 1321, afourth pin piece portion 322 fixed in the fourth slot portion 1322, anda second connecting portion 320 connecting the third pin piece portion321 and the fourth pin piece portion 322. In the illustrated embodimentof the present disclosure, the third pin piece portion 321 and thefourth pin piece portion 322 respectively include a plurality of secondbarbs 323 in order to improve the holding force with the second wallportion 13. The second connecting portion 320 is received in the secondintermediate slot portion 1320. In the illustrated embodiment of thepresent disclosure, lengths of the third pin piece portion 321 and thefourth pin piece portion 322 are different in order to correspond todifferent first mating modules 2.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first pin piece 31 andthe second pin piece 32 are both stamped from a metal sheet. As shown inFIG. 9 , in an embodiment, the plurality of first pin pieces 31 may beseparately provided and separately installed in the corresponding firstlocking slots 122, respectively. The plurality of second pin pieces 32may be separately provided and separately installed in the correspondingsecond locking slots 132, respectively. As shown in FIG. 10 , in otherembodiments, the plurality of first pin pieces 31 may also be connectedas a whole by a first strip 314. The plurality of second pin pieces 32can also be connected as a whole by a second strip 324. During assembly,the first pin piece 31 and the second pin piece 32 are integrallyinstalled in the corresponding first locking slots 122 and the secondlocking slots 132, respectively, so as to improve the installationefficiency. After the assembly is completed, according to actual needs,the first strip 314 and the second strip 324 can be removed or retained.

Referring to FIGS. 11 to 14 , each of the first mating modules 2includes a first terminal module 20, a first metal shield 23 located onone side of the first terminal module 20, a second metal shield 24located on the other side of the first terminal module 20, a pluralityof first cables 25 connected to the first terminal module 20, and afirst outer covering portion 260 partially covering the first terminalmodule 20, the first metal shield 23, the second metal shield 24 and thefirst cables 25.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14 , each first terminal module 20 includes aninsulating bracket 21 and a plurality of first conductive terminals 22fixed to the insulating bracket 21. The insulating bracket 21 is roughlyframe-shaped and includes a hollow portion 210 and a plurality of posts216. The posts 216 are adapted to fix and position the first metalshield 23 and the second metal shield 24. In the illustrated embodimentof the present disclosure, the posts 216 are substantially cylindrical.The posts 216 include a plurality of first posts 2161 and a plurality ofsecond posts 2162. The first posts 2161 and the second posts 2162 arerespectively located on two opposite sides of the insulating bracket 21so as to mate with the first metal shield 23 and the second metal shield24, respectively. In addition, the insulating bracket 21 also includes aplurality of positioning protrusions 211 respectively located at the topand the bottom thereof. The positioning protrusions 211 include aplurality of first positioning protrusions 2111 and a plurality ofsecond positioning protrusions 2112. The first positioning protrusions2111 and the second positioning protrusions 2112 are located on twoopposite sides of the insulating bracket 21, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 17 , each group of first conductive terminals22 include a first mating portion 221, a first tail portion 222, and afirst connection portion 223 located between the first mating portion221 and the first tail portion 222. The first connection portions 223 ofthe first conductive terminals 22 are fixed to the insulating bracket21. The first connection portions 223 are partially exposed in thehollow portion 210 in order to adjust impedance.

The first mating portion 221 extends forwardly and protrudes beyond theinsulating bracket 21 for mating with the second electrical connector200. The first tail portion 222 extends backwardly and protrudes beyondthe insulating bracket 21 for being electrically connected to the firstcable 25. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, eachfirst conductive terminal 22 is of a straight configuration and extendsalong the front-rear direction.

Each group of first conductive terminals 22 include a plurality of firstground terminals G1, a plurality of second ground terminals G2, and aplurality of first signal terminals S1. In the illustrated embodiment ofthe present disclosure, two adjacent first signal terminals S1 form apair of first differential signal terminals. Each pair of firstdifferential signal terminals are located between one first groundterminal G1 and one second ground terminal G2. That is, each group offirst conductive terminals 22 are arranged in a manner of G1-S1-S1-G2,which is beneficial to improve the quality of signal transmission. Thefirst differential signal terminals are narrow-side coupling orwide-side coupling. A width of the first ground terminal G1 (forexample, a spaced distance in a left-right direction) and a width thesecond ground terminal G2 (for example, the spaced distance in theleft-right direction) are greater than a width of each first signalterminal S1 which is located between the first ground terminal G1 andthe second ground terminal G2. Therefore, it is beneficial to increasethe shielding area and improve the shielding effect.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the firstconnection portions 223 of the first conductive terminals 22 arepartially insert-molded with the insulating bracket 21. Of course, inother embodiments, the first conductive terminals 22 may also be mountedto the insulating bracket 21 by means of assembling or the like. In theillustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the first contactportion 221 of the first signal terminal S1 is substantiallyneedle-shaped. The first contact portion 221 of the first groundterminal G1 and the first contact portion 221 of the second groundterminal G2 are substantially flat-shaped. The first contact portion 221of the first signal terminal S1 and the first connection portion 223 ofthe first conductive terminal 22 are both coplanar, which means they arelocated in a same first plane (for example, a vertical plane). It shouldbe noted that the technical term “coplanar” used in the presentdisclosure is intended to indicate that related components aresubstantially flush, which includes situations of incomplete coplanaritycaused by manufacturing tolerances. In the illustrated embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the first ground terminal G1 includes a firsttorsion portion 2241 connecting its first contact portion 221 and itsfirst connection portion 223, so that the first contact portion 221 ofthe first ground terminal G1 is located in a second plane (for example,a horizontal plane) perpendicular to the first plane. The second groundterminal G2 includes a second torsion portion 2242 connecting its firstcontact portion 221 and its first connection portion 223, so that thefirst contact portion 221 of the second ground terminal G2 is alsolocated in the second plane (for example, the horizontal plane)perpendicular to the first plane. The first contact portion 221 of thefirst ground terminal G1 and the first contact portion 221 of the secondground terminal G2 are parallel to each other.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the first metalshield 23 and the second metal shield 24 are symmetrically disposed onopposite sides of the insulating bracket 21. Referring to FIGS. 13, 14,18 and 19 , the first metal shield 23 includes a first main body portion231 and a first extension portion 232 extending forwardly from a frontedge of the first main body portion 231, and a first extension tail 234extending rearwardly from a rear edge of the first main body portion231. The first main body portion 231 is located on one side of the firstconnection portions 223 of the first conductive terminals 22. The firstextension portion 232 is located on one side of the first contactportions 221 of the first conductive terminals 22. The first extensiontail 234 is located on one side of the first tail portions 222 of thefirst conductive terminals 22. In the illustrated embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the first extension portion 232 and the first mainbody portion 231 are located in different planes, in which the firstextension portion 232 is farther away from the second metal shield 24than the first main body portion 231. The first extension tail 234 iscloser to the second metal shield 24 than the first main body portion231. The first main body portion 231 includes a plurality of firstmounting holes 2311 mating with the plurality of first posts 2161. Thefirst posts 2161 are fixed and positioned in the first mounting holes2311 by soldering, so that the fixing and positioning of the first metalshield 23 and the insulating bracket 21 are realized. The first mainbody portion 231 includes a plurality of ribs 233. The ribs 233 includea plurality of first ribs 2331 protruding toward the first groundterminals G1 and a plurality of second ribs 2332 protruding toward thesecond ground terminals G2. The first ribs 2331 corresponding to thefirst ground terminal G1 are disposed along an extending direction ofthe first connection portion 223 of the first ground terminal G1. Thesecond ribs 2332 corresponding to the second ground terminal G2 aredisposed along an extending direction of the first connection portion223 of the second ground terminal G2. The second ribs 2332 are providedalong the extending direction of the first connection portion 223 of thesecond ground terminal G2. In the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the first ribs 2331 and the second ribs 2332 are formed bystamping the first main body portion 231. The first ribs 2331 and thesecond ribs 2332 protrude toward the second metal shield 24. The firstribs 2331 and the second ribs 2332 are disposed discontinuously alongthe extending direction of the first connection portion 223 of the firstground terminal G1 and the extending direction of the first connectionportion 223 of the second ground terminal G2 in order to achievemulti-position contact. Therefore, the contact reliability between thefirst metal shield 23 and the first ground terminal G1, and the contactreliability between the first metal shield 23 and the second groundterminal G2 are improved. In the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, referring to FIG. 29 , a wall thickness of the first rib2331, a wall thickness of the second rib 2332, and a wall thickness of aportion of the first main body portion 231 located between the first rib2331 and the second rib 2332 are the same. In addition, upper and loweredges of the first main body portion 231 further include a plurality offirst positioning notches 2312 which mate with the first positioningprotrusions 2111 of the insulating bracket 21.

The first extension portion 232 includes a plurality of first bulges2321 protruding toward the corresponding first contact portions 221 ofthe first ground terminals G1, a plurality of second bulges 2322protruding toward the corresponding first contact portions 221 of thesecond ground terminals G2, and a plurality of first elastic pieces 2323each of which is located between adjacent first bulge 2321 and secondbulge 2322. The first elastic pieces 2323 extend toward the first mainbody portion 231. Each first elastic piece 2323 includes an arc-shapedmating portion 2324. In the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the first extension portion 232 further includes two firstprotruding tabs 2325 located at opposite sides of each first elasticpiece 2323. The first protruding tabs 2325 and the first elastic pieces2323 extend along opposite directions. The first protruding tabs 2325protrude sidewardly to contact the adjacent first terminal module 2 soas to improve the shielding effect. In the illustrated embodiment of thepresent disclosure, referring to FIG. 31 , a wall thickness of the firstbulge 2321, a wall thickness of the second bulge 2322, and a wallthickness of a portion of the first extension portion 232 locatedbetween the first bulge 2321 and the second bulge 2322 are the same. Inaddition, the first extension portion 232 further includes a firstabutting block 2326 a and a second abutting block 2327 a. Correspondingto one first ground terminal G1 and one second ground terminal G2, thenumber of the first abutting block 2326 a and the second abutting block2327 a may be one or two. The first abutting block 2326 a and the secondabutting block 2327 a are used to abut against or clamp thecorresponding mating portions 221 of the first ground terminal G1 andthe second ground terminal G2 along the vertical direction so as toachieve position limit.

Referring to FIG. 26 , in the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the first extension tail 234 includes a plurality of firstabutting portions 2341 and a plurality of first protrusions 2342extending in a direction toward the second metal shield 24. The firstprotrusions 2342 are saw teeth each of which includes a substantiallypyramid-shaped tip portion 2343.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , in an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the first extension tail 234 further includes a plurality offirst bridge portions 2344 and a plurality of second bridge portions2345 extending from upper and lower sides of the first abutting portions2341, respectively. The adjacent first bridge portion 2344 and secondbridge portion 2345 are connected together. By providing the firstbridge portions 2344 and the second bridge portions 2345, on the onehand, the grounding area of the first extension tail 234 is increased,thus the shielding effect is improved; on the other hand, the firstextension tail 234 can be connected as a whole along the verticaldirection, thereby improving the structural strength. In the illustratedembodiment of the present disclosure, the first bridge portions 2344 andthe second bridge portions 2345 are located in a same vertical plane.The plurality of first abutting portions 2341 are located in a differentvertical plane.

Similarly, referring to FIGS. 13, 14, 20 and 21 , the second metalshield 24 includes a second main body portion 241 and a second extensionportion 242 extending forwardly from a front edge of the second mainbody portion 241, and a second extension tail 244 extending rearwardlyfrom a rear edge of the second main body portion 241. The second mainbody portion 241 is located on the other side of the first connectionportions 223 of the first conductive terminals 22. The second extensionportion 242 is located on the other side of the first contact portions221 of the first conductive terminals 22. The second extension tail 244is located on the other side of the first tail portions 222 of the firstconductive terminals 22. In the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the second extension portion 242 and the second main bodyportion 241 are located in different planes, in which the secondextension portion 242 is farther away from the first metal shield 23than the second main body portion 241. The second extension tail 244 iscloser to the first metal shield 23 than the second main body portion241. The second main body portion 241 includes a plurality of secondmounting holes 2411 mating with the plurality of second posts 2162. Thesecond posts 2162 are fixed and positioned in the second mounting holes2411 by soldering, so that the second metal shield 24 and the insulatingbracket 21 are fixed and positioned. The second main body portion 241includes a plurality of ribs 243. The ribs 243 include a plurality ofthird ribs 2431 protruding toward the first ground terminals G1 and aplurality of fourth ribs 2432 protruding toward the second groundterminals G2. The third ribs 2431 are disposed along the extendingdirection of the first connection portion 223 of the first groundterminal G1. The fourth ribs 2432 are disposed along the extendingdirection of the first connection portion 223 of the second groundterminal G2. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure,the third ribs 2431 and the fourth ribs 2432 are formed by stamping thesecond main body portion 241. The third ribs 2431 and the fourth ribs2432 protrude toward the first metal shield 23. The third ribs 2431 andthe fourth ribs 2432 are discontinuously disposed along the extendingdirection of the first connection portion 223 of the first groundterminal G1 and the extending direction of the first connection portion223 of the second ground terminal G2 so as to achieve multi-positioncontact. Therefore, the contact reliability of the second metal shield24 and the first ground terminal G1, and the contact reliability of thesecond metal shield 24 and the second ground terminal G2 are improved.In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, a wallthickness of the third rib 2431, a wall thickness of the fourth rib2432, and a wall thickness of a portion of the second main body portion241 located between the third rib 2431 and the fourth rib 2432 are thesame. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, soldering is performedon surfaces of the ribs 233 and the ribs 243 so that the ribs 233 andthe ribs 243 are soldered to the first ground terminal G1 and the secondground terminal G2, respectively. For example, soldering is performed onsurfaces of the first ribs 2331, the second ribs 2332, the third ribs2431 and the fourth ribs 2432, so that the first ribs 2331, the secondribs 2332, the third ribs 2431 and the fourth ribs 2432 are soldered tothe first ground terminal G1 and the second ground terminal G2. Thesoldering method is at least one of spot soldering, laser soldering andultrasonic soldering. In addition, upper and lower edges of the secondmain body portion 241 further respectively include a plurality of secondpositioning notches 2412 which mate with the second positioningprotrusions 2112 of the insulating bracket 21.

The second extension portion 242 includes a plurality of third bulges2421 protruding toward the first contact portions 221 of the firstground terminals G1, a plurality of fourth bulges 2422 protruding towardthe first contact portions 221 of the second ground terminals G2, and aplurality of second elastic pieces 2423 each of which is located betweenadjacent third bulge 2421 and fourth bulge 2422. The second elasticpieces 2423 extend along directions toward the second main body portion241. Each second elastic piece 2423 includes an arc-shaped matingportion 2424. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure,the second extension portion 242 further includes two second protrudingtabs 2425 located at opposite sides of each second elastic piece 2423.The second protruding tabs 2425 and the second elastic pieces 2423extend along opposite directions. The second protruding tabs 2425protrude sidewardly to contact the adjacent first terminal module 2 soas to improve the shielding effect. In the illustrated embodiment of thepresent disclosure, a wall thickness of the third bulge 2421, a wallthickness of the fourth bulge 2422, and a wall thickness of a portion ofthe second extension portion 242 located between the third bulge 2421and the fourth bulge 2422 are the same.

In addition, the second extension portion 242 further includes a thirdabutting block 2426 a and a fourth abutting block 2427 a. Correspondingto one first ground terminal G1 and one second ground terminal G2, thenumber of the third abutting block 2426 a and the fourth abutting block2427 a may be one or two. The third abutting block 2426 a and the fourthabutting block 2427 a are used to abut against or clamp thecorresponding mating portions 221 of the first ground terminal G1 andthe second ground terminal G2 along the vertical direction so as toachieve position limit.

Referring to FIG. 27 , in the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the second extension tail 244 includes a plurality of secondabutting portions 2441 and a plurality of second protrusions 2442extending in a direction toward the first metal shield 23. The secondprotrusions 2442 are saw teeth each of which includes a substantiallypyramid-shaped tip portion 2443.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21 , in an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the second extension tail 244 further includes a pluralityof third bridge portions 2444 and a plurality of fourth bridge portions2445 extending from upper and lower sides of the second abuttingportions 2441, respectively. The adjacent third bridge portion 2444 andfourth bridge portion 2445 are connected together. By providing thethird bridge portions 2444 and the fourth bridge portions 2445, on theone hand, the grounding area of the second extension tail 244 isincreased, thus the shielding effect is improved; on the other hand, thesecond extension tail 244 can be connected as a whole along the verticaldirection, thereby improving the structural strength. In the illustratedembodiment of the present disclosure, the third bridge portions 2444 andthe fourth bridge portions 2445 are located in a same vertical plane.The plurality of second abutting portions 2441 are located in anotherdifferent vertical plane.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23 , in another embodiment of the first metalshield 23, the plurality of first abutting portions 2341 are spacedapart from each other in the vertical direction. Referring to FIGS. 24and 25 , in another embodiment of the second metal shield 24 of thepresent disclosure, the plurality of second abutting portions 2441 arespaced apart from each other in the vertical direction.

Referring to FIG. 16 , each of the first cables 25 includes first cores251 for electrically connecting with the first tail portions 222 of thefirst differential signal terminals, first insulating layers 252 wrappedon the first cores 251, a first shielding layer 253 wrapped on the firstinsulating layers 252, and a first insulating outer layer 254 wrapped ona part of the first shielding layer 253. In an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the first cores 251 are fixed to the first tail portions 222of the first differential signal terminals by soldering. In theillustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, for each first cable25 per se, the first shielding layer 253 is partially exposed to thefirst insulating outer layer 254 in order to be in contact with thefirst metal shield 23 and the second metal shield 24.

Referring to FIGS. 28 to 31 , in the illustrated embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the first contact portion 221 and the firstconnection portion 223 of the first ground terminal G1 have a first widesurface 221 a and a first narrow surface 221 b perpendicular to thefirst wide surface 221 a. The first contact portion 221 and the firstconnection portion 223 of the second ground terminal G2 have a secondwide surface 221 c and a second narrow surface 221 d perpendicular tothe second wide surface 221 c. The first connection portions 223 of eachpair of first differential signal terminals are located between thefirst narrow surface 221 b of the first ground terminal G1 and thesecond narrow surface 221 d of the second ground terminal G2 which arelocated on opposite sides of the first connection portions 223 of eachpair of first differential signal terminals (referring to FIG. 29 ). Thefirst contact portions 221 of each pair of first differential signalterminals are located between the first wide surface 221 a of the firstground terminal G1 and the second wide surface 221 c of the secondground terminal G2 which are located on opposite sides of the firstcontact portions 221 of each pair of first differential signal terminals(referring to FIG. 31 ). In the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a width of the first wide surface 221 a and a width of thesecond wide surface 221 c are greater than a width of each first contactportion 221 of the first signal terminals S1, thereby better shieldingcan be provided for the first contact portions 221 of the first signalterminals S1.

Referring to FIGS. 28 and 29 , along a length of the first connectionportion 223 of the first conductive terminal 22, the first rib 2331 ofthe first metal shield 23 and the third rib 2431 of the second metalshield 24 respectively contact two opposite sides of the firstconnection portion 223 of the first ground terminal G1, and the secondrib 2332 of the first metal shield 23 and the fourth rib 2432 of thesecond metal shield 24 respectively contact two opposite sides of thefirst connection portion 223 of the second ground terminal G2, therebyforming a shielding cavity 26 surrounding the outer periphery of thefirst connection portions 223 of each pair of first differential signalterminals. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, thefirst rib 2331 and the third rib 2431 respectively contact the firstwide surface 221 a of the first connection portion 223 of the firstground terminal G1. The second rib 2332 and the fourth rib 2432respectively contact the second wide surface 221 c of the firstconnection portion 223 of the second ground terminal G2. In theillustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the shielding cavity26 is jointly formed by the first main body portion 231, the second mainbody portion 241, the first ground terminal G1 and the second groundterminal G2. The first connection portion 223 of the first groundterminal G1 includes a first tab portion 2234 protruding into theshielding cavity 26. The first connection portion 223 of the secondground terminal G2 includes a second tab portion 2235 protruding intothe shielding cavity 26. The first connection portions 223 of the firstdifferential signal terminals are located between the first tab portion2234 and the second tab portion 2235. In the illustrated embodiment ofthe present disclosure, there are a plurality of the shielding cavities26 which are disposed along an arrangement direction of each group ofthe first conductive terminals 22. Two adjacent shielding cavities 26share a single first ground terminal G1 or a single second groundterminal G2. In addition, a part of the shared first ground terminal G1protrudes into one shielding cavity 26, and another part of the sharedfirst ground terminal G1 protrudes into another shielding cavity 26.

Referring to FIGS. 30 and 31 , in the length of the first contactportion 221 of the first conductive terminal 22, the first bulge 2321 ofthe first metal shield 23 and the third bulge 2421 of the second metalshield 24 respectively contact two opposite side surfaces of the firstcontact portion 221 of the first ground terminal G1, and the secondbulge 2322 of the first metal shield 23 and the fourth bulge 2422 of thesecond metal shield 24 respectively contact two opposite side surfacesof the first contact portion 221 of the second ground terminal G2. Inthe illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the first bulge2321 of the first metal shield 23 and the third bulge 2421 of the secondmetal shield 24 respectively contact the first narrow surfaces 221 b ofthe first contact portion 221 of the first ground terminal G1. Thesecond bulge 2322 of the first metal shield 23 and the fourth bulge 2422of the second metal shield 24 respectively contact the second narrowsurfaces 221 d of the first contact portion 221 of the second groundterminal G2. The first extension portion 232, the second extensionportion 242, the first ground terminal G1 and the second ground terminalG2 jointly form a shielding space 27 for accommodating the correspondingfirst contact portions 221 of the first differential signal terminals.The first elastic piece 2323 and the second elastic piece 2423 extendinto the shielding space 27. In the illustrated embodiment of thepresent disclosure, there are multiple shielding spaces 27 which aredisposed along a stacking direction of each group of the firstconductive terminals 22. Two adjacent shielding spaces 27 share a singlefirst ground terminal G1 or a single second ground terminal G2. Onefirst wide surface 221 a of the first contact portion 221 of the sharedfirst ground terminal G1 is exposed to the shielding space 27, and theother first wide surface 221 a of the first contact portion 221 of theshared first ground terminal G1 is exposed to an adjacent shieldingspace 27. Similarly, a first wide surface 221 c of the first contactportion 221 of the shared second ground terminal G2 is exposed to theadjacent shielding space 27, and the other wide surface 221 c of thefirst contact portion 221 of the shared second ground terminal G2 isexposed to another adjacent shielding space 27.

Referring to FIGS. 32 and 33 , the first abutting portion 2341 of thefirst metal shield 23 and the second abutting portion 2441 of the secondmetal shield 24 are in contact with the corresponding first shieldinglayer 253 of the first cable 25. By such arrangement, it is beneficialto improve the shielding effect and improve the quality of signaltransmission.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the firstabutting portion 2341 of the first extension tail 234 and the secondabutting portion 2441 of the second extension tail 244 jointly clamp thecorresponding first shielding layer 253 of the first cable 25. The tipportions 2343 of the first protruding portion 2342 and the tip portions2443 of the second protruding portion 2442 abut against the firstshielding layer 253 of the first cable 25, so as to improve the holdingforce with the first shielding layer 253. Through this design, on theone hand, it can better improve the contact reliability; on the otherhand, it is beneficial to prevent the first cable 25 from loosening. Inaddition, the tip portions 2343 of the first protruding portion 2342 andthe tip portions 2443 of the second protruding portion 2442 pierce thecorresponding first shielding layer 253 of the first cable 25, therebyfurther improving the holding force. In the illustrated embodiment ofthe present disclosure, by providing the saw teeth, when the tipportions 2343 of the first protruding portion 2342 and the tip portions2443 of the second protruding portion 2442 abut against or pierce thefirst shielding layer 253 of the first cable 25, gaps 2340 formedbetween adjacent saw teeth can facilitate the injection of conductiveslurry into the gaps 2340. Therefore, the electrical connection effectof the first extension tail 234, the second extension tail 244 and thefirst shielding layer 253 is further improved, and the contactreliability and holding force are further improved.

In addition, when the first abutting portions 2341 and the secondabutting portions 2441 are spaced apart from each other in the verticaldirection (referring to FIGS. 22 to 25 ), in order to increase theclamping force of the first abutting portions 2341 of the firstextension tail 234 and the second abutting portions 2441 of the secondextension tail 244, which jointly clamp the corresponding firstshielding layer 253 of the first cable 25, the first insulating outerlayer 254 further includes a plurality of heat-shrinkable sleeves (notshown) sleeved on the first abutting portions 2341 and the secondabutting portions 2441 which are aligned along the left-right direction.By providing the heat-shrinkable sleeves, it is beneficial to form along-term clamping force and improve the durability of products.

Referring to FIG. 17 , the first outer covering portion 260 is partiallywrapped around the first tail portions 222 of the first conductiveterminals 22, the first extension tail 234 of the first metal shield 23,the second extension tail 244 of the second metal shield 24 and thefirst cables 25. Therefore, the integrity of the first mating module 2is improved, which is beneficial to improve the assembly efficiency. Thefirst outer covering portion 260 is made of insulating material, andincludes a first positioning groove 2601 on a top surface thereof and asecond positioning groove 2602 on a bottom surface thereof. In theillustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the first outercovering portion 260 includes a first convex rib 2603 located on the topsurface thereof, and a second convex rib 2604 located on the bottomsurface thereof. The first positioning groove 2601 is formed on thefirst convex rib 2603. The second positioning groove 2602 is formed onthe second convex rib 2604.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the first mating modules 2 areassembled to the first housing 1 along a rear-to-front direction, thefirst convex ribs 2603 of the first mating modules 2 are positioned inthe corresponding first positioning slots 123, and the second convexribs 2604 of the first mating modules 2 are positioned in thecorresponding second positioning slots 133. As a result, positions ofthe first mating modules 2 in the vertical direction and the left-rightdirection are restricted. When the first mating modules 2 are assembledin place forwardly, a stop (not shown) provided at a front end of thefirst housing 1 prevents the first mating modules 2 from continuing tomove forward, thereby the first mating modules 2 are prevented frombeing excessively inserted into the first housing 1. In an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the first convex rib 2603 and/or the secondconvex rib 2604 of two adjacent first mating modules 2 are different inat least one design element among the design elements such as shape,structure and size. This makes the two adjacent first mating modules 2have a fool-proof design so as to avoid wrong insertion. It can beunderstood that no matter what is the difference between the firstconvex rib 2603 and/or the second convex rib 2604 of the two adjacentfirst mating modules 2 in the design elements such as shape, structureand size, regarding one first mating module 2, the first convex rib 2603is matched with the corresponding first positioning slot 123, and thesecond convex rib 2604 is matched with the corresponding secondpositioning slot 133. In other words, for one first mating module 2, itsfirst convex rib 2603 can be inserted and positioned in thecorresponding first positioning slot 123, and its second convex rib 2604can be inserted and positioned in the corresponding second positioningslot 133. After the plurality of the first mating modules 2 areassembled in place, the first pin pieces 31 and the second pin pieces 32are respectively inserted into the first housing 1 along the verticaldirection. At this time, the first pin piece portion 311 of the firstpin piece 31 and the third pin piece portion 321 of the second pin piece32 are respectively clamped in the first positioning groove 2601 and thesecond positioning groove 2602. At the same time, the second pin pieceportion 312 of the first pin piece 31 and the fourth pin piece portion322 of the second pin piece 32 are respectively clamped in the firstpositioning groove 2601 and the second positioning groove 2602 of theother (adjacent) first mating module 2. By using the first pin piece 31and the second pin piece 32 to fix the first mating modules 2, it ispossible to prevent the first mating modules 2 from being separated fromthe first housing 1 in a direction opposite to an assembling direction.In addition, this design saves space because the first pin piece 31 andthe second pin piece 32 can be hidden in the first housing 1. As aresult, this reduces the size of the first electrical connector 100 to acertain extent, and can reduce the probability that the first pin piece31 and the second pin piece 32 will lose their limiting effect due toimproper force from the outside.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, multiple firstmating modules 2 of the first electrical connector 100 are provided. Theterminal arrangement of the two adjacent first mating modules 2 isstaggered. Correspondingly, the shielding cavities 26 at the sameposition of the two adjacent first mating modules 2 are staggered(referring to FIG. 29 ). The shielding spaces 27 at the same position ofthe two adjacent first mating modules 2 are staggered (referring to FIG.31 ).

Referring to FIGS. 34 and 35 , the second electrical connector 200includes a second housing 5, a plurality of second mating modules 6mounted to the second housing 5, and a plurality of second positioningpieces 8 for positioning the second mating modules 6 in the secondhousing 5.

The second housing 5 is made of insulating material, and includes asecond body portion 51, a first extension wall 52 extending from thesecond body portion 51 to one end, and a second extension wall 53extending from the second body portion 51 to the other end. The secondbody portion 51 includes a plurality of second terminal receivinggrooves 511 extending along a front-rear direction. In the illustratedembodiment of the present disclosure, the second terminal receivinggrooves 511 are disposed in multiple rows along a left-right direction.Two adjacent rows of second terminal receiving grooves 511 are staggeredin a vertical direction. That is, the second terminal receiving grooves511 at corresponding positions in the two adjacent rows of secondterminal receiving grooves 511 are not aligned in the left-rightdirection. The first extension wall 52 includes a first extension wallportion 54 and a second extension wall portion 55 opposite to eachother. The second extension wall 53 includes a receiving space 535 whichis used for at least partially receiving the first electrical connector100. The first extension wall portion 54 includes a plurality of thirdslots 541, a plurality of third locking slots 542 communicating with thethird slots 541, and a plurality of third positioning slots 543 forpositioning the corresponding second mating modules 6. The secondextension wall portion 55 includes a plurality of fourth slots 551, aplurality of fourth locking slots 552 communicating with the fourthslots 551, and a plurality of fourth positioning slots 553 forpositioning the corresponding second mating modules 6. The third slots541 and the fourth slots 551 extend in the front-rear direction. Thethird slot 541 and the fourth slot 551 which are aligned with each otherin the vertical direction are used for receiving one second matingmodule 6. The third locking slots 542 and the fourth locking slots 552extend along the vertical direction. The third locking slots 542 extendthrough the first extension wall portion 54 along the vertical directionso as to communicate with the corresponding third slots 541. The fourthlocking slots 552 extend through the second extension wall portion 55along the vertical direction so as to communicate with the correspondingfourth slots 551.

Referring to FIG. 38 , in the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, each third locking slot 542 is approximately cross-shaped,and includes a third intermediate slot portion 5420, a fifth slotportion 5421 located on one side (i.e., a left side) of the thirdintermediate slot portion 5420 along a first direction (i.e., theleft-right direction), a sixth slot portion 5422 located on the otherside (i.e., a right side) of the third intermediate slot portion 5420along the first direction, a fifth slotted portion 5423 located on oneside (i.e., a front side) of the third intermediate slot portion 5420along a second direction (i.e., the front-rear direction), and a sixthslotted portion 5424 located on the other side (i.e., the rear side) ofthe third intermediate slot portion 5420 along the second direction.Regarding one third locking slot 542 itself, the fifth slot portion5421, the third intermediate slot portion 5420 and the sixth slotportion 5422 are communicated in the left-right direction. The fifthslotted portion 5423, the third intermediate slot portion 5420 and thesixth slotted portion 5424 are communicated in the front-rear direction.The fifth slot portion 5421 and the sixth slot portion 5422 both extendthrough the first extension wall portion 54 along the vertical directionso as to communicate with the corresponding third slots 541. The thirdintermediate slot portion 5420 does not extend downwardly through thefirst extension wall portion 54 so that a surface of the first extensionwall portion 54 located inside the third intermediate slot portion 5420can limit the corresponding second positioning piece 8. In addition, inthe present disclosure, by providing the fifth slotted portion 5423 andthe sixth slotted portion 5424, it is advantageous to clamp the secondpositioning piece 8 by a clamp, and to assemble or disassemble thesecond positioning piece 8 in the third locking slot 542.

Similarly, referring to FIG. 39 , each fourth locking slot 552 isroughly cross-shaped, and includes a fourth intermediate slot portion5520, a seventh slot portion 5521 located on one side (i.e., the leftside) of the fourth intermediate slot portion 5520 along the firstdirection (i.e., the left-right direction), an eighth slot portion 5522located on the other side (i.e., the right side) of the fourthintermediate slot portion 5520 along the first direction, a seventhslotted portion 5523 located on one side (i.e., the front side) of thefourth intermediate slot portion 5520 along the second direction (i.e.,the front-rear direction), and an eighth slotted portion 5524 located onthe other side (i.e., the rear side) of the fourth intermediate slotportion 5520 along the second direction. Regarding one fourth lockingslot 552 itself, the seventh slot 5521, the fourth intermediate slot5520 and the eighth slot 5522 are communicated in the left-rightdirection. The seventh slotted portion 5523, the fourth intermediateslot portion 5520 and the eighth slotted portion 5524 are communicatedalong the front-rear direction. The eighth slot portion 5522 extendsthrough the second extension wall portion 55 in the vertical directionso as to communicate with the fourth slot 551. The seventh slot portion5521 and the fourth slot portion 5422 both extend through the secondextension wall portion 55 along the vertical direction so as tocommunicate with the corresponding fourth slot 551. The fourthintermediate slot portion 5520 does not extend upwardly through thesecond extension wall portion 55, so that a surface of the secondextension wall portion 55 located in the fourth intermediate slotportion 5520 can be used to limit the corresponding second positioningpiece 8. In addition, by providing the seventh slot 5523 and the eighthslot 5524 in the present disclosure, it is advantageous to clamp thesecond positioning piece 8 by a clamp, and to assemble or disassemblethe second positioning piece 8 in the fourth locking slot 552.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the thirdlocking slot 542 and the fourth locking slot 552 are substantiallycross-shaped. Of course, in other embodiments, the third locking slot542 may also be H-shaped. Specifically, referring to FIG. 52 , the thirdlocking slot 542 includes a third intermediate slot portion 5420, afifth slot portion 5421 located on one side (i.e., the left side) of thethird intermediate slot portion 5420 along the first direction (i.e.,the left-right direction), a sixth slot portion 5422 located on theother side (i.e., the right side) of the third intermediate slot portion5420 along the first direction, fifth opening portions 5425 located onboth sides of the fifth slot portion 5421 along the second direction(i.e., the front-rear direction), and sixth opening portions 5426located on both sides of the sixth slot portion 5422 along the seconddirection. Regarding one third locking slot 542 itself, the fifth slotportion 5421, the third intermediate slot portion 5420 and the sixthslot portion 5422 are communicated in the left-right direction. Thethird intermediate slot portion 5420 does not extend downwardly throughthe first extension wall portion 54 so that a surface of the firstextension wall portion 54 located in the third intermediate slot portion5420 can be used to limit the corresponding second positioning piece 8.In addition, in the present disclosure, by providing the fifth opening5425 and the sixth opening 5426, it is advantageous to clamp the secondpositioning piece 8 by a clamp, and to assemble or disassemble thesecond positioning piece 8 in the third locking slot 542. The shape ofthe fourth locking slot 552 may be the same as the shape of the thirdlocking slot 542, that is, the fourth locking slot 552 is also H-shaped,which will not be repeated in the present disclosure. Of course, inother embodiments, the third locking slot 542 and the fourth lockingslot 552 may also have other shapes which are not limited by the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 40 , the second positioning piece 8 includes aplurality of third pin pieces 81 mating with the third locking slots 542and a plurality of fourth pin pieces 82 mating with the fourth lockingslots 552. Each third pin piece 81 is approximately in the shape of aninverted U, and includes a fifth pin piece portion 811 fixed in thefifth slot portion 5421, a sixth pin piece portion 812 fixed in thesixth slot portion 5422, and a third connecting portion 810 connectingthe fifth pin piece portion 811 and the sixth pin piece portion 812. Inthe illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the fifth pinpiece portion 811 and the sixth pin piece portion 812 respectivelyinclude a plurality of third barbs 813 in order to improve the holdingforce with the first extension wall portion 54. The third connectingportion 810 is received in the third intermediate slot portion 5420. Inthe illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, lengths of thefifth pin piece portion 811 and the sixth pin piece portion 812 aredifferent in order to correspond to different second mating modules 6.

Similarly, each fourth pin piece 82 is substantially U-shaped, andincludes a seventh pin piece portion 821 fixed in the seventh slotportion 5521, an eighth pin piece portion 822 fixed in the eighth slotportion 5522, and a fourth connecting portion 820 connecting the seventhpin piece portion 821 and the eighth pin piece portion 822. In theillustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the seventh pin pieceportion 821 and the eighth pin piece portion 822 respectively include aplurality of fourth barbs 823 in order to improve the holding force withthe second extension wall portion 55. The fourth connecting portion 820is received in the fourth intermediate slot portion 5520. In theillustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the seventh pin pieceportion 821 and the eighth pin piece portion 822 have different lengthsin order to correspond to different second mating modules 6.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the third pin piece 81 andthe fourth pin piece 82 are both stamped from a metal sheet. Theplurality of third pin pieces 81 can be separately provided, and areseparately installed in the corresponding third locking slots 542,respectively. The plurality of fourth pin pieces 82 can be separatelyprovided, and are separately installed in the corresponding fourthlocking slots 552, respectively. Of course, in other embodiments,referring to FIG. 41 , the plurality of third pin pieces 81 may also beconnected as a whole by a third strip 814. The plurality of fourth pinpieces 82 can also be connected as a whole by a fourth strip 824. Duringassembling, the third pin piece 81 and the fourth pin piece 82 areintegrally installed in the corresponding third locking slots 542 andthe fourth locking slots 552, respectively, so as to improve theinstallation efficiency. After the assembly is completed, the thirdstrip 814 and the fourth strip 824 can be removed or retained accordingto actual needs.

Referring to FIGS. 42 to 48 , each second mating module 6 includes aplurality of insulating blocks 65, a plurality of second terminalmodules 60 mounted to the insulating blocks 65, a plurality of metalshield surrounding members 66 sleeved on the insulating blocks 65 andthe second terminal modules 60, a metal shielding plate 67 for matingwith the metal shield surrounding members 66, a plurality of secondcables 68 electrically connected to the second terminal modules 60, anda second outer covering portion 69 partially covering the secondterminal modules 60, the metal shield surrounding members 66, the metalshielding plate 67 and the second cables 68.

Referring to FIG. 48 , each second terminal module 60 includes aninsulating member 61 and a plurality of second conductive terminals 62fixed to the insulating member 61. In an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the second conductive terminals 62 are insert-molded withthe insulating member 61. Of course, in other embodiments, the secondconductive terminals 62 may also be fixed to the insulating member 61 byassembling or the like.

Each group of second conductive terminals 62 include a second contactarm 621, a second tail portion 622, and a second connection portion 623connecting the second contact arm 621 and the second tail portion 622.The second connection portions 623 of the second conductive terminals 62are fixed to the insulating member 61. The second contact arm 621extends forwardly and protrudes beyond the insulating member 61 forbeing electrically connected with the first electrical connector 100.The second tail portion 622 extends backwardly and protrudes beyond theinsulating member 61 for being electrically connected to the secondcable 68. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, thesecond conductive terminal 62 is substantially straight and extends inthe front-rear direction.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second conductiveterminals 62 of each second terminal module 60 form a pair of seconddifferential signal terminals in order to increase the signaltransmission rate.

Each of the insulating blocks 65 includes a mating surface 652 at an endand two through holes 651 into which the second contact arms 621 of thesecond conductive terminals 62 are inserted. The through holes 651extend through the mating surface 652. In the illustrated embodiment ofthe present disclosure, the insulating block 65 has a substantial cuboidconfiguration. Correspondingly, the metal shield surrounding member 66is of a substantial cuboid configuration. In an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the insulating block 65 is fixed in the metal shieldsurrounding member 66 by assembling or other ways.

Referring to FIG. 48 , the metal shield surrounding member 66 includes ahollow portion 661, a first extended portion 662 connected to the hollowportion 661, and a third extension tail 663 connected to the firstextended portion 662. The hollow portion 661 includes a shieldingchamber 6610 for accommodating the insulating block 65 and the secondterminal module 60 so as to improve the shielding effect. Across-section of the first extended portion 662 is approximatelyU-shaped. The first extended portion 662 includes an opening 6621corresponding to the second tail portion 622 and a positioningprotrusion 6622 protruding toward the metal shielding plate 67.

The third extension tail 663 includes a plurality of third abuttingportions 6631 facing a direction toward the metal shielding plate 67.Each third abutting portion 6631 further includes a plurality of thirdprotrusions. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure,the third protrusions are saw teeth each of which includes asubstantially pyramid-shaped tip portion (referring to the saw teeth asshown in FIGS. 26 and 27 ).

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the third extension tail 663further includes a plurality of fifth bridge portions 6634 and aplurality of sixth bridge portions 6335 extending from upper and lowersides of the third abutting portions 6631, respectively. The adjacentfifth bridge portion 6634 and sixth bridge portion 6335 are connectedtogether. By providing the fifth bridge portions 6634 and the sixthbridge portions 6335, on the one hand, the grounding area of the thirdextension tail 663 is increased, thus the shielding effect is improved;on the other hand, the third extension tail 663 can be connected as awhole along the vertical direction, thereby improving the structuralstrength.

The metal shielding plate 67 includes a second extended portion 672 anda fourth extension tail 673 connected to the second extended portion672. The second extended portion 672 is disposed opposite to the firstextended portion 662. The fourth extension tail 673 and the thirdextension tail 663 are disposed opposite to each other. In other words,at a location where the second tail portion 622 of the second conductiveterminal 62 is connected to the second cable 68, the metal shieldingplate 67, and the first extended portion 662 and the third extensiontail 663 of the metal shield surrounding member 66 are located on twosides, respectively, and are used to clamp the second cable 68.

Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure,the second extended portion 672 includes an end portion 6721 contactingthe hollow portion 661 and a positioning notch 6722 for mating with thepositioning protrusion 6622. Through the cooperation of the positioningprotrusion 6622 and the positioning notch 6722, the assembly andpositioning of the metal shield surrounding member 66 and the metalshielding plate 67 can be realized in a front-rear assembly direction.The second extended portion 672 is in contact with the first extendedportion 662 so as to improve the shielding effect.

Referring to FIG. 45 , the fourth extension tail 673 includes aplurality of fourth abutting portions 6731 facing a direction toward thethird abutting portion 6631. Each fourth abutting portion 6731 furtherincludes a plurality of fourth protrusions 6732. In the illustratedembodiment of the present disclosure, the fourth protrusions 6732 aresaw teeth each of which includes a substantially pyramid-shaped tipportion 6733. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the thirdprotrusions and the fourth protrusions 6732 have similar structures. Thethird protrusions are disposed on a side wall of the third abuttingportion 6631 adjacent to the fourth abutting portion 6731. That is, thethird protrusions are provided on a side wall of the third abuttingportion 6631 facing the corresponding second cable 68.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the fourth extension tail673 further includes a plurality of seventh bridge portions 6734 and aplurality of eighth bridge portions 6735 extending from upper and lowersides of the fourth abutting portions 6731, respectively. The adjacentseventh bridge portion 6734 and the eighth bridge portion 6735 areconnected together. By providing the seventh bridge portions 6734 andthe eighth bridge portions 6735, on the one hand, the grounding area ofthe fourth extension tail 673 is increased, thus the shielding effect isimproved; on the other hand, the fourth extension tail 673 can beconnected as a whole along the vertical direction, thereby improving thestructural strength. In the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the seventh bridge portions 6734 are in contact with thefifth bridge portions 6634, and the eighth bridge portions 6735 are incontact with the sixth bridge portions 6335 so as to improve theshielding effect.

Referring to FIG. 49 , in another embodiment of the metal shieldsurrounding member 66 and the metal shielding plate 67, the plurality ofthird abutting portions 6631 are spaced apart from each other in thevertical direction, and the plurality of fourth abutting portions 6731are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction.

Referring to FIGS. 43 and 48 , each second cable 68 includes secondcores 681 for electrically connecting with the second tail portions 622of the second differential signal terminals, second insulating layers682 wrapped on the second cores 681, a second shielding layer 683wrapped on the second insulating layers 682, and a second insulatingouter layer 684 wrapped on a part of the second shielding layer 683. Inan embodiment of the present disclosure, the second cores 681 are fixedto the second tail portions 622 of the second differential signalterminals by soldering. In the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, for each second cable 68 per se, the second shielding layer683 is partially exposed to the second insulating outer layer 684 inorder to be in contact with the third extension tail 663 and the fourthextension tail 673.

Referring to FIGS. 45 and 47 , in the illustrated embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the third abutting portion 6631 of the thirdextension tail 663 and the fourth abutting portion 6731 of the fourthextension tail 673 jointly clamp the corresponding the second shieldinglayer 683 of the second cable 68. The saw teeth of the third abuttingportions 6631 and the saw teeth of the fourth abutting portions 6731abut against the second shielding layer 683 of the second cable 68, soas to improve the holding force with the second shielding layer 683.Through such design, on the one hand, it can better improve the contactreliability, and on the other hand, it is beneficial to prevent thesecond cable 68 from loosening. Further, the saw teeth of the thirdabutting portions 6631 and the saw teeth of the fourth abutting portions6731 pierce the corresponding second shielding layer 683 of the secondcable 68, thereby further improving the holding force. In theillustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, when the saw teeth ofthe third abutting portions 6631 and the saw teeth of the fourthabutting portions 6731 abut against or pierce the corresponding secondshielding layer 683 of the second cable 68, gaps 6840 between adjacentsaw teeth (referring to FIG. 45 ) can facilitate the injection ofconductive slurry into the gaps 6840, thereby further improving theelectrical connection effect of the third extension tail 663, the fourthextension tail 673 and the second shielding layer 683, and furtherimproving contact reliability and holding force.

In addition, when the third abutting portions 6631 and the fourthabutting portions 6731 are spaced apart from each other in the verticaldirection, in order to increase the clamping force of the third abuttingportions 6631 of the third extension tail 663 and the fourth abuttingportion 6731 of the fourth extension tail 673, which jointly clamp thecorresponding the second shielding layer 683 of the second cable 68, thesecond insulating outer layer 684 further includes a plurality ofheat-shrinkable sleeves (not shown) sleeved on the third abuttingportions 6631 and the fourth abutting portions 6731 which are alignedalong the left-right direction. By providing the heat-shrinkablesleeves, it is beneficial to form a long-term clamping force and improvethe durability of products.

Before forming the second outer covering portion 69, soldering portionsof the second cores 681 and the second tail portions 622 of the seconddifferential signal terminals are exposed in the corresponding openings6621, so that the soldering portions and/or components surrounding thesoldering portions can be protected by using a fixture. Then, the secondouter covering portion 69 is fixed to the second terminal modules 60,the metal shield surrounding members 66, the metal shielding plate 67and the second cables 68 by over-molding, thereby improving theintegrity of the second mating module 6 and improving the assemblyefficiency.

Referring to FIG. 44 , the second outer covering portion 69 is made ofinsulating material, and includes a third positioning groove 691 on atop surface thereof and a fourth positioning groove 692 on a bottomsurface thereof. In the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the second outer covering portion 69 includes a third convexrib 693 located on a top surface thereof and a fourth convex rib 694located on a bottom surface thereof. The third positioning groove 691 isformed on the third convex rib 693. The fourth positioning groove 692 isformed on the fourth convex rib 694. Referring to FIG. 34 , when thesecond mating modules 6 are assembled to the second housing 5 along arear-to-front direction, the third convex rib 693 of the second matingmodule 6 is positioned in the corresponding third positioning groove543, and the fourth convex rib 694 of the second mating module 6 ispositioned in the corresponding fourth positioning groove 553, therebypositions of the second mating modules 6 along the vertical directionand the left-right direction are restricted. When the second matingmodules 6 are assembled in place backwards, a stop (not shown) providedat a rear end of the second housing 5 prevents the second mating modules6 from continuing to move backwards, thereby the second mating modules 6are prevented from being excessively inserted into the second housing 5.In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the third convex rib 693and/or the fourth convex rib 694 of the two adjacent second matingmodules 6 are different in at least one design element among the designelements such as shape, structure and size. Therefore, the two adjacentsecond mating modules 6 have a fool-proof design so as to avoid wronginsertion. It can be understood that no matter what is the differencebetween the third convex rib 693 and/or the fourth convex rib 694 of thetwo adjacent second mating modules 6 in the design elements such asshape, structure and size, regarding one second mating module 6, thethird convex rib 693 is matched with the corresponding third positioninggroove 543, and the fourth convex rib 694 is matched with thecorresponding fourth positioning groove 553. In other words, regardingone second mating module 6, the third convex rib 693 can be inserted andpositioned in the corresponding third positioning groove 543, and thefourth convex rib 694 can be inserted and positioned in thecorresponding fourth positioning groove 553. After the plurality of thesecond mating modules 6 are assembled in place, the third pin piece 81and the fourth pin piece 82 are respectively inserted into the secondhousing 5 along the vertical direction. At this time, the fifth pinpiece portion 811 of the third pin piece 81 and the seventh pin pieceportion 821 of the fourth pin piece 82 are respectively clamped in thethird positioning groove 691 and the fourth positioning groove 692 ofone second mating module 6. At the same time, the sixth pin pieceportion 812 of the third pin piece 81 and the eighth pin piece portion822 of the fourth pin piece 82 are respectively clamped in the thirdpositioning groove 691 and the fourth positioning groove 692 of theother (adjacent) second mating module 6. By using the third pin piece 81and the fourth pin piece 82 to fix the second mating modules 6, it ispossible to prevent the second mating modules 6 from being separatedfrom the second housing 5 in the direction opposite to an assemblingdirection. In addition, this design saves space because the third pinpiece 81 and the fourth pin piece 82 can be hidden in the second housing5. This reduces the size of the second electrical connector 200 to acertain extent, and can reduce the probability that the third pin piece81 and the fourth pin piece 82 will lose their limiting effect due toimproper force from the outside.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, multiple secondmating modules 6 of the electrical connector 200 are provided, in whichthe arrangement of two adjacent second mating modules 6 is staggered.When the second mating modules 6 are mounted to the second housing 5,the metal shield surrounding members 66 of the second mating modules 6pass through corresponding terminal receiving grooves so as to extendinto the receiving space 535.

Referring to FIG. 50 , when the first electrical connector 100 is matedwith the second electrical connector 200, the first housing 1 of thefirst electrical connector 100 is inserted into the receiving space 535of the second housing 5 of the second electrical connector 200. Thefirst mating portions 221 of the first mating modules 2 are insertedinto the second contact arms 621 of the second mating modules 6 so as toachieve contact.

It should be noted that, in order to facilitate the understanding of thetechnical solutions of the present disclosure, the element namesbeginning with “first”, “second”, “third” . . . “eighth” in the presentdisclosure are the naming method adopted only for the purpose ofspecifically introducing the technical solutions of the presentdisclosure in conjunction with the illustrated embodiments of thepresent disclosure. When the names of these elements do not start with“first”, “second”, “third” . . . “eighth”, etc., these element names aresuperordinate concept of the element names beginning with “first”,“second”, “third” . . . “eighth” etc. For example, “a mating module” isa superordinate concept of “the first mating module 2” and “the secondmating module 6”, and so on.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present disclosureand not to limit the technical solutions described in the presentdisclosure. The understanding of this specification should be based onthose skilled in the art. Descriptions of directions, such as “front”,“back”, “left”, “right”, “top” and “bottom”, although they have beendescribed in detail in the above-mentioned embodiments of the presentdisclosure, those skilled in the art should understand thatmodifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to theapplication, and all technical solutions and improvements that do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the application should be covered bythe claims of the application.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical connector, comprising: a housingcomprising a body portion, a pair of first extension walls extendingfrom one side of the body portion, and a receiving space formed by thebody portion and the pair of first extension walls; the body portiondefining a plurality of terminal receiving grooves extending through thebody portion and communicating with the receiving space; and a pluralityof mating modules assembled to the housing; each mating modulecomprising: a plurality of conductive terminals extending along a matingdirection, each conductive terminal including a tail portion and amating portion; a metal shield surrounding member comprising a pluralityof hollow portions surrounding the mating portions; and a cablecomprising a plurality of cores electrically connected to the tailportions; wherein the metal shield surrounding member is insertedthrough a corresponding terminal receiving groove to reside in thereceiving space in a cantilevered manner.
 2. The electrical connectoraccording to claim 1, wherein the mating module comprises a positioninggroove, the housing comprises a slot portion corresponding to thepositioning groove, and the electrical connector comprises a positioningpiece which is inserted into the positioning groove and the slot portionalong a direction perpendicular to the mating direction.
 3. Theelectrical connector according to claim 1, wherein each mating modulecomprises: a plurality of insulating blocks each of which defines athrough hole; a plurality of terminal modules assembled to theinsulating blocks, each terminal module comprising an insulating member,the conductive terminals being fixed to the insulating member, themating portion being received in the through hole; and a metal shieldingplate in contact with the metal shield surrounding member; wherein thehollow portions are sleeved on the insulating blocks and the terminalmodules.
 4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein thecable comprises a shielding layer; wherein the metal shield surroundingmember comprises a third extension tail, and the third extension tailcomprises a third abutting portion; wherein the metal shielding platecomprises a fourth extension tail, and the fourth extension tailcomprises a fourth abutting portion; and the third abutting portion andthe fourth abutting portion clamp the shielding layer from both sides.5. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein the thirdabutting portion comprises a plurality of third protrusions abuttingagainst the shielding layer, and the fourth abutting portion comprises aplurality of fourth protrusions abutting against the shielding layer. 6.The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein the thirdprotrusions and the fourth protrusions are saw teeth, and each saw toothcomprises a tip portion which pierces the shielding layer.
 7. Theelectrical connector according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of thethird abutting portions are provided and disposed at intervals; whereina plurality of the fourth abutting portions are provided and disposed atintervals; and wherein the cable comprises a plurality ofheat-shrinkable sleeves, and each heat-shrinkable sleeve is sleeved onthe third abutting portion and the fourth abutting portion which are inalignment with each other in a direction perpendicular to the matingdirection.
 8. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein aplurality of the third abutting portions are provided, the thirdextension tail comprises a plurality of fifth bridge portions extendingfrom one side of the third abutting portions and a plurality of sixthbridge portions extending from the other side of the third abuttingportions, the fifth bridge portion and the sixth bridge portion adjacentwith each other are connected together; wherein a plurality of thefourth abutting portions are provided, the fourth extension tailcomprises a plurality of seventh bridge portions extending from one sideof the fourth abutting portions and a plurality of eighth bridgeportions extending from the other side of the fourth abutting portions,the seventh bridge portion and the eighth bridge portion adjacent toeach other are connected together; and wherein the fifth bridge portionsare in contact with the seventh bridge portions, and the sixth bridgeportions are in contact with the eighth bridge portions.
 9. Theelectrical connector according to claim 4, wherein the metal shieldsurrounding member comprises a plurality of first extended portionsconnecting the hollow portions and the third extension tail, and eachfirst extension portion defines an opening at a position where the coreand the tail portion are soldered.
 10. The electrical connectoraccording to claim 9, wherein the metal shielding plate comprises asecond extended portion connecting the fourth extension tail, and thesecond extended portion is disposed opposite to the first extendedportion.
 11. An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a firstelectrical connector, comprising: a first housing; and a plurality offirst mating modules assembled to the first housing; each first matingmodule comprising: a plurality of first conductive terminals extendingalong a mating direction, each first conductive terminal comprising afirst tail portion and a first mating portion; a first metal shield; asecond metal shield, the first metal shield and the second metal shieldbeing located on opposite sides of the first conductive terminals; and afirst cable, the first cable comprising a plurality of first coreselectrically connected to the first tail portions; wherein the firstconductive terminals comprise first differential signal terminals, afirst ground terminal and a second ground terminal, wherein the firstdifferential signal terminals are located between the first groundterminal and the second ground terminal; and wherein the first metalshield, the second metal shield, the first ground terminal and thesecond ground terminal jointly form a shielding space enclosing thefirst mating portions of the first differential signal terminals; and asecond electrical connector for mating with the first electricalconnector, the second electrical connector comprising: a second housing;and a plurality of second mating modules assembled to the secondhousing; each second mating module comprising: a plurality of secondconductive terminals extending along the mating direction, each secondconductive terminal including a second tail portion and a second matingportion; a metal shield surrounding member comprising a plurality ofhollow portions surrounding the mating portions; and a second cablecomprising a plurality of second cores electrically connected to thesecond tail portions.
 12. The electrical connector according to claim 1,wherein the housing comprises a pair of second extension walls extendingfrom another side of the body portion, and a mounting space formed bythe pair of second extension walls and the body portion; each secondextension wall defines a plurality of mounting slots communicating withthe receiving space; and the plurality of mounting slots are configuredto position the plurality of mating modules.
 13. The electricalconnector assembly according to claim 11, wherein the first housingcomprises a body portion, a pair of first extension walls extending fromone side of the body portion, and a receiving space formed by the bodyportion and the pair of first extension walls; the body portion definesa plurality of terminal receiving grooves extending through the bodyportion and communicating with the receiving space; and wherein themetal shield surrounding member is inserted through a correspondingterminal receiving groove to reside in the receiving space in acantilevered manner.